Finish performance of fabrics comprised of synthetic fibers and cellulosic fibers



FiNlSl-I PERFGRMANCE F FABRICS COMPRISED 0F SYNTHETIC FIBERS ANDCELLULOSIC FIBERS Earl H. l-Iartgrove, Jr., Julian J. Hirshfeld, andBertie J.

Reuben, Decatur, Ala., assignors to Monsanto Company, St. Louis, Mo., acorporation of Delaware No Drawing. Filed July 1, 1966, Ser. No. 562,075

int. Cl. D06m /54 US. Cl. 8-1l5.7 24 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREPre-cure and post-cure processes for imparting washand-wear andpermanent press or durable crease characteristics to garments areimproved by impregnating a fabric comprised of synthetic and cellulosicfibers with an aqueous solution of a resin and a swelling agent specificto the synthetic fiber.

This invention relates to a process of treating fabrics. Moreparticularly, the invention concerns a process of treating fabrics toimpart thereto excellent wash and wear and crease retentioncharacteristics.

Wash and wear fabrics and permanent crease fabrics have become verypopular in the garment industry. Garments made of these fabrics areknown as Permanent Press or Durable Crease garments. Such garments arerapidly becoming an established fashion trend and, to the customer,represent the ultimate in minimum-care garments, i.e. they requirelittle or no pressing and will retain a Wrinkle-free, sharp-creaseappearance after numerous home launderings or cleanings.

Wash and wear and permanent press or durable crease characteristics canbe imparted to garments by two basic procedures. These procedures arethe post-cure procedure which consists of impregnating a fabric with anappropriate resin, fabricating the garment and then curing the resinimpregnated garment after the appropriate creases are incorporatedtherein; and the pre-cure procedure which consists of impregnating afabric with a resin, curing the resin impregnated fabric, fabricating agarment from the fabric and then permanently creasing the garment at ahigh temperature, or high temperature and high pressure. The amount ofresin impregnated in the garment is usually within the range of fromabout to about 35%. Examples of useful resins include thermosettingresins of the hydroxyethylene urea type and the dimethylolethylcarbamate type. Auxiliary chemicals such as hand modifiers, softeningagents, etc. can also be added with the resin to give desired propertiesto the fabric.

Though the above procedures impart good permanent crease and wash andwear characteristics to the garment, the resins used in these proceduresreact with the hydroxy groups in the cellulosic molecules and, as aresult, adversely affect the physical characteristics of the garment.For example, the resins adversely affect the hand of the garment; theyimpart poor edge abrasion resistance to the garment, especially at thecrease and at the points of the cuff; and on curing, the garments shrinkto some extent. However the most significant adversity imparted to thefabric by the resin is the fact that the resin weakens the tensilecharacteristic of the fabric, i.e. the tear strength of the fabric isreduced. This is especially true with fabrics composed of 100%cellulosic fibers where the tear strength is reduced about 50%. Theseadversities can be overcome to a degree, i.e. the shrinking can beovercome by initially over sizing the garment to compensate for theshrinkage and the poor handle of the garment can be restored bychemically treating the fabric nitcd States Patent 0 "ice to modify thehand. However, the poor edge abrasion resistance and the loss in tearstrength are difficult to overcome and are directly dependent on theamount of resin impregnated into the fabric, i.e. the more resin presentwithin the fabric, the weaker the fabric.

To overcome the loss in the tear strength of a fabric composed ofcellulosic fibers, synthetic fibers such as polyester fibers are blendedwith the cellulosic fibers. These synthetic fibers are non-reactive withthe resins and impart good tear strength characteristic to the fabric.However, when a crease is imparted to such a fabric blend, stresses andstrains are built-up Within the synthetic fibers and these fibers tendto resist any deformation. In such a condition, the synthetic fibershave a natural tendency to assume their original shape and, as a result,the efiiciency and permanency of creasing such a fabric is somewhatdiminished.

It was thought that if the synthetic fibers could be chemically modifiedso that upon creasing the molecules within the synthetic fibers couldassume a new configuration, the stresses and strains imparted to thesynthetic fibers would be alleviated. Also, it was thought that if theresin could be more evenly and uniformly distributed throughout thesynthetic and cellulosic fibers within the fabric, less resin would haveto be used to impart good wash and Wear and permanent crease retentioncharacteristics to the fabric. And, since less resin would be availableto react with the cellulosic fibers, a fabric having a better tensilestrength would result. Improved economics, as a result of using lessresin, is also an obvious improvement.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a process ofimparting excellent wash and wear and permanent crease retentioncharacteristics to fabrics comprised of synthetic fibers and cellulosicfibers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a process of impartingexcellent wash and wear and permanent crease retention characteristicsto fabrics comprised of synthetic fibers and cellulosic fibers whereinthe synthetic fibers are substantially free of stresses and strains.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a process of impartingexcellent wash and wear and permanent crease retention characteristicsto fabrics comprised of synthetic fibers and cellulosic fibers wherebyabout 25% to about 30% less resin is required to impart thesecharacteristics than present-day permanent press processes.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent as the invention isfully developed within the specification.

These and other objects of this invention are accomplished by providinga process of imparting a wash and wear and crease retentioncharacteristics to a fabric comprised of synthetic fibers and cellulosicfibers comprising impregnating the fabric with an aqueous liquidcomprised of a resin and a synthetic-fiber swelling agent.

Fabrics useful with the invention include fabrics comprised ofcellulosic fibers and synthetic fibers. Examples of cellulosic fibersinclude rayon (a manufactured fiber composed of regenerated cellulose,as well as manufactured fibers composed of regenerated cellulose inwhich substituents have replaced not more than 15% of the hydrogens ofthe hydroxyl groups), acetate (a manufactured fiber in which thefiber-forming substance is cellulose acetate; Where not less than 92% ofthe hydroxyl groups are acetylated, the term tri-acetate may be used asa generic description of the fiber) and cotton. Examples of usefulsynthetic fibers include spandex (a manufactured fiber in which thefiber-forming substance is any long-chain synthetic polymer composed ofat least by weight of a segmented polyurethane), polyester (amanufactured fiber in which the fiber-forming substance is anylong-chain synthetic polymer composed of at least 85% by weight of anester of a dihydric alcohol and a dibasic acid or derivative thereof,such as terephthalic acid and dimethyl terephthalate), olefin (amanufactured fiber in which the fiber-forming substance is any longchain synthetic polymer composed of at least 85% by weight of ethylene,propylene, or other olefin units), modacrylic (a manufactured fiber inwhich the fiberforming substance is any long-chain synthetic polymercomposed of less than 85% but at least 35% by weight of acrylonitrileunits), nylon (a manufactured fiber in which the fiber-forming substanceis any long-chain synthetic polyarnide having recurring amide groups asan integral part of the polymer chain), and acrylic (a manufacturedfiber in which the fiber-forming substance is any long-chain syntheticpolymer composed of at least 85% by weight of acrylonitrile units).Examples of particularly useful fabrics include a blend of polyesterfiber and cot ton fiber, preferably containing up to about 65% polyesterfiber, and a blend of an acrylic fiber and a cellulosic fiber, forexample a blend of acrylic, acetate and rayon fibers or a blend ofacrylic and rayon fibers, containing up to about 45% of the cellulosicfiber. Preferable fabrics useful with the invention are fabrics composedof synthetic fibers and cellulosic fibers containing at least 25%, andpreferably at least 50%, of the synthetic fiber. Examples of such fabricblends include a blend of polyamide fiber and cotton fiber containingless than about 50% of the polyarnide fiber, a blend of polyester fiberand cotton fiber containing at least 50% of the polyester fiber, a blendof polyester fiber and rayon fiber containing at least 50% of thepolyester fiber, a blend of polyester fiber and any cellulosic fiber,for example acetate, rayon, or cotton, containing at least about 50% ofthe polyester fiber, a blend of acrylic fiber and rayon fiber containingat least 40% of the acrylic fiber, a blend of acrylic fiber and acellulosic fiber or fibers such as rayon, rayon and acetate, wherein theacrylic fiber content is at least about 40%.

Resins useful with the invention include any resin which is capable ofimparting wrinkle-resistant properties to fabrics comprised of syntheticfibers and cellulosic fibers. Such resins include a wide range ofthermosetting synthetic resins and especially those resins which arereactive with the hydroxy grouping in the cellulosic fibers. Examples ofsuch resins include formaldehyde glyoxal, acrolein, variousurea-formaldehydes including cylic ethylene urea resins, melamine andmodified melamine formaldehydes, epoxy resins and others of the generalclass of thermosetting resins which can be condensed with aldehydes orwhich can be polymerized on cellulosic fibers and which react with thehydroxy groups in the cellulose molecules, or which can react withoutpolymerization to cross-link with cellulose molecules. Examples ofuseful resins available on the market incude Permafresh Reactant 183 (animidazolidone resin); Eponite 100 (an epoxy resin); Ganalok A-14 (adivinyl sulfone resin); Protoset B (a carbamate resin); Aerotex 23 (atriazine resin); Dextraset UN (a uron resin); and Reactant 'RL-2035 (amodified ethylene urea resin). There must be present with the resin asuitable catalyst to facilitate the polymerization and/or crosslinkng ofthe resin. The catalyst should be present in amounts ranging from about1 part of catalyst to about 3 to parts of polymerizable resin. Usefulcatalyst are of common knowledge in the art and it is of commonknowledge that a particular catalyst is preferred with a particularresin. Examples of useful catalyst include ammonium dihydrogen phosphatewith a formaldehyde and urea resin, magnesium chloride hexahydrate witha triazine or a carbamate type resin, zinc nitrate with a uron typeresin, sodium carbonate with a divinyl sulfone type resin, and zincfluoroborate with an epoxy resin. The term resin, where used herein, isintended to include sutficient catalyst to facilitate polymerizationand/or crosslinking of the resin.

The synthetic-fiber swelling agents useful with the invention includeany chemical agent which tends to swell the synthetic fiber, i.e. thediameter and surface area of the fiber is increased upon contact withthe swelling agent. Examples of useful swelling agents include benzoicacid, salicyclic acid, phenol, meta-cresol, monochlorobenzene,p-dichlorbenzene, tetrahydro-naphthalene, methyl benzoate, methylsalicylate, ortho-phenylphenol, and furfural. Examples of usefulswelling agents identified by their tradenames include Carolid ELF-C (anon-ionic, modified biphenyl derivative emulsifiable); Carolid (ananionic, self-emulsifiable modified phenyl derivative); Tanavol(anionic, modified self-emulsifiable solvent carrier); Tanalon Special(a self-emulsifiable solvent); and Latyl Carrier A (an organic-esteramide mixture).

The aqueous solution, in addition to the crosslinking and/orpolymerizable resin, the catalyst to facilitate the reaction of theresin, and the synthetic-fiber swelling agents, can contain auxiliarychemicals such as hand builders, textile softeners, deodorants,antiseptics, antifoaming agents, antistatic agents, wetting agents,water and oil stain repellents, brighteners, tints, and dyes. Whenfurfural is used as the swelling agent, it is preferred that it be addedlast to the aqueous solution and that it be present in a water mixturecontaining one part of furfural per 25 parts of water.

As mentioned previously, the fabric is impregnated with an aqueousliquid comprised of a polymerizable and/or a crosslinking resin and asynthetic-fiber swelling agent. Impregnation can be accomplished at roomtemperature or a higher temperature by padding, coating, spraying,kiss-roll application, or any like means known in the art whereby thefabric can be wetted or impregnated with the aqueous liquid effecting afabric pick-up of from about 50% to about of the liquid, the percentbased on the weight of the fabric. The term resin is intended to includesuflicient catalyst to facilitate polymerization and/or crossliuking ofthe resin. The aqueous liquid should contain from about 10% to about 35%of the resin. From about 5% to about 25% of the resin should beimpregnated in the fabric; a preferred amount is about 13% of the resinimpregnated in the fabric. The amount of the synthetic-fiber swellingagent in the aqueous liquid is dependent upon the amount of syntheticfiber Within the fabric, amounts within the range of from about 0.1% toabout 5%, and preferably from about 1.0% to 2.0%, are usually sufficientto swell the synthetic fiber, the percents based on weight of theaqueous liquid. Other auxiliary chemicals, such as hand softeners, etc.,of common knowledge to the art can be added to the aqueous liquid tomodify the physical characteristics of the fabric.

After impregnation, the fabric is partially dried to a moisture contentof from about 2% up to about 30% and preferably to a moisture content offrom about 4% to about 8%. Thereafter the fabric can be fabricated intoan apparel, a crease imparted thereto, for example by a steam press, andthen the creased fabric can be subjected to a heat treatment for asufficient period of time and at a sufficient temperature to cure theresin, for example at a temperature of from about 250 F. to about 450 F.for a period of time of from about 5 seconds up to about 30 minutes, andpreferably at a temperature of from about 275 F. to about 350 F. and fora period of time ranging from about 5 to about 20 minutes. The fabriccan be processed also by impregnating the fabric with the aqueousliquid, drying the impregnated fabric, curing the resin in the fabric,fabricating an apparel, imparting a crease to the apparel and thenpermanently creasing the apparel by reforming the cured resin in thefabric by subjecting it to high temperatures, for example about 450 F.,and/or high pressures for short periods of time, e.g. 5 to about 20seconds.

The following examples are presented to specifically illustrate workingembodiments of the invention. These examples are not presented to limitin any way the subject matter of the invention but are presented to showhow the use of synthetic-fiber swelling agents with resins are useful toimpart excellent wash and wear characteristics and excellent creaseretention characteristics to the fabric and, at the same time, requireless resin than is normally required in conventional processes toaccomplish these characteristics. After the samples are treated asdescribed in the following examples, they are subjected to the belowindicated tests to show their utility. The tests are described in thefollowing paragraphs.

The Wash and Wear Rating Test is tentative test method number AATCC88A-1964T, procedure number He, described in the Technical Manual of theAmerican TABLE 1 Wrinkle recovery rating Wash and wear Crease reten-Sample Composition of aqueous mixture Conditions of impartrating altertion rating after No. ing permanent crease Warp Filling 5 washings 5washings 1 8% Eponite 100, 2% Neutronyx 600, min. at 300 F 84 81 2 2 2%Aqualene N, 1.5% zinc fluoroborate. 2 30% Ganalok A-l, 2.3% sodium car-1.5 min. at 300 F"... 70 68 3 3 lsaoFnate, 0.3% borax, 3.0% Mykou 3Protorez WW, 4% magnesium 1.5 min. at 325 F- 77 74 2 2 chloride, 0.1%Triton X-100, 3.0% Mykon SF. 4 Aerotex Resin 23, 4% magne- 10 min at 300F 81 7S 2 3 slum chloride, 3% Mykon SF, 0.1% Iriton X-lOO. 5 20%Dextraset UN, 1.5% zinc nitrate, 2 min. at 340 F 84 82 2 3 3% Mykon SF,0.1% Triton X-100. 6 15% Permairesh reactant 183, 2% My- 10 min. at 300F 77 74 3 4 Iron SF, 2.7% Catalyst X-4, 0.1% Mykon WA. 7 15% ReactantHD2035, 2% Mykon 10 min. at 300 F 81 78 3 4 SF, 2.5% magnesium chloride,0.1% Mykon WA. 8 Control 66 67 2 2 Association of Textile Chemists andColorrsts, volume EXAMPLE II 41, pages B-99 through B-103, HowesPublishing Company, New York (1965). The results of this test areevaluated on a numerical basis from 1 to 5, 1 indicating a poor wash andwear rating and 5 indicating the best rating.

The Crease Retention Rating Test is tentative test method number AATCC88C-1964T, described in the Technical Manual of the American Associationof Textile Chemists and Colorists, volume 41, pages B-l04 through B-105,Howes Publishing Company, New York (1965). The results of this test areindicated on a numerical basis from 1 to 5, a 1 rating indicating a poorcrease retention rating whereas a 5 rating indicates the best creaseretention rating.

The Wrinkle Recovery Test is ASTM test, designation D129560T. Theresults of this test are given for the warp and the filling direction ofthe fabric and are rated on a numerical basis of from 0 to 100. A ratingof 0 indicates a poor wrinkle recovery characteristic whereas a ratingof 100 indicates an excellent rating.

The Abrasive Resistance Test is ASTM test, designation D-117564T. Theresults of this test are rated on a numerical basis in minutes. A ratingof 3 minutes indicates a poor abrasive resistance rating whereas arating of 8 minutes indicates a good rating.

The following examples are presented to specifically illustrate workingembodiments of the invention. Unless otherwise specified, the percentsused in the examples are based on weight. Chemicals used in the exampleswhich have not previously been identified include the followingtradenames: Aqualine N (a nonionic emulsion of a high melting pointpolyolefin); Mycon SE (a nonionic paraffinfree polyethylene emulsion);Mycon WA (an ethylene oxide condensate); Catalyst X-4 (a aqueoussolution of zinc nitrate); Rhoplex HA-8 (an aqueous acrylic dispersionof thermoplastic resin); Silkand 40 (a nonionic polymer emulsion);Morapol 700 (a nitrogen-free nonionic polyethylene emulsion); TritonXl00 (an alkylarylpolyether alcohol); and Neutronxy 600 (an alkylphenolpolyglycolether).

EXAMPLE I Fabric samples being of a broadcloth weave and weighing about3.0 oz. per yard and composed of 65% poly- To show the effect of fiberswelling agents in combination with finish compositions, fabric samplesbeing of a broadcloth weave and weighing about 3.5 oz. per square yardand composed of polyester fiber and 35% cotton fiber are padded atambient temperature with aqueous mixtures containing the compositionindicated in Table 2. The samples are dried to approximately 5% moisturein an oven at 200 F. for 5 minutes and are then creased on a steam pressat 250 F. for 15 seconds. Thereafter the samples are placed in an ovenfor 10 minutes at 300 F. The samples are removed and each sample isevaluated for wash and wear rating and for crease retention rating.Table 2 contains the test results of the ratings:

TABLE 2 Wash and Crease retenwear rating tion rating Sample Compositionof aqueous after 5 after 5 No. mixture washings washings 1 15%Permafresh Reactant 3. 0 3. 0

183, 2.7% Catalyst X-4, 2.0% Mykon SF, 0.1% Mykon WA. 2 FormulationSample 1, 3. O 3. 3

1% Carolid ELF-C. 3 Formulation Sample 1, 3. 3 4. 0

1% Carolid. 4 Formulation Sample 1, 3. 0 3.6

1% t'urfural. 5 Formulation Sample 1, 3. 0 4. 0

1% Tanavol. 6 Formulation Sample 1, 3.3 4.0

1% methyl salicylate. 7 Formulation Sample 1, 3.0 3. 3

1% Latyl Carrier A. 8 Formulation Sample 1, 3. 0 3.0

1% Tanalon Special.

As can be readily ascertained from the above data, the incorporation ofa swelling agent betters the crease retention rating and in most casesbetters the wash and wear ratings.

EXAMPLE III Fabric samples being of a broadcloth weave, weighing about3.5 oz. per yard and composed of 65% polyester fiber and 35% cottonfiber are padded at ambient temperature with aqueous mixtures containingthe compositions indicated in Table 3. The samples are dried toapproximately 4% moisture in an oven at 200 F. for 5 minutes and arethen creased on a steam press at 250 F. for seconds. Thereafter thesamples are placed in an oven at 300 F. for 10 minutes. The samples areremoved 8 EXAMPLE v To show the significance of the invention in regardsto increased wrinkle resistance and more eflicient use of the resin,fabric samples being of a twill weave, trouser and are then tested forwash and wear rating crease reten- 5 weight of about 6 oz. per yard andcomposed of 65% tion rating, wrinkle recovery rating and abrasionresistant polyester fiber and 35% cotton fiber are padded w1th tworatlng. The results of the tests are mdicated m Table 3. differentaqueous mixtures. Aqueous mixture number 1 TABLE 3 Wash and Wear Creaseretention rating rating Wrinkle recovery Sample Composition of 10 2 10rating N 0. aqueous mixture washings washings washings washings(filling) 1.- Permairesh Reactant 183, 4.5%

Catalyst X-4, 0.1% Mykon WA. 3. 6 4. 0 3. 0 2. 3 78 2.-. 20% PermafreshReactant 183, 3.6% 3. 3 3. 0 2. 3 2. 0 73 Catalyst X-4, 0.1% Mykon WA. 310% Permairesh Reactant 183, 1.8% 3.0 3.3 2.0 1.6 77

Catalyst X-4, 0.1% Mykon WA. 4 Formulation of Sample 1, 2% Carolid- 3. 64.0 3. 6 3.3 75 Formulation of Sample 2, 2% Carolid 2. 6 2. 6 3. 0 2. 669 Formulation of Sample 3, 2% Carolid. 3.0 3.3 2. 3 2.0 72 Formulationof Sample 1, 2% iuriural. 2. 6 4. 0 4. 0 2. 6 79 Formulation of Sample2, 2% iurtural. 3.3 3.0 2.3 2.0 77 Formulation of Sample 3, 2% furfural-3. 0 3. 0 2. 6 2. 3 72 Formulation of Sample 1, 2% Tanavol- 2. 6 2. 62.0 2. 6 71 Formulation of Sample 2, 2% Tanavol. 2. 6 3. 0 2. 0 2.0 72Formulation of Sample 3, 2% Tanavol- 3. 0 3. 0 1. G 1. 6 75 Formulationof Sample 1, 1% Carolid- 3. 6 3. 6 3.6 2. 6 80 Formulation of Sample 2,1% Carolld- 3.3 3. 6 3.0 2. 6 77 Formulation of Sample 3, 1% Carolid-4.0 3.3 3. 6 2.3 73 Formulation of Sample 1, 1% iurfural- 3. 6 3. 0 3. 32. 3 80 Formulation of Sample 2, 1% iuriural- 4. 0 3. 3 3. 0 3. 0 79Formulation of Sample 3, 1% furfural- 3.0 3. 0 2.3 2.0 74 Formulation ofSample 1, 1% Tanavol. 3. 6 3. 6 2.0 2. 0 78 Formulation of Sample 2, 1%TanavoL 3. 6 3. 6 2. 3 2.3 78 Formulation of Sample 3, 1% Tanavol. 3. 33. 0 2. O 1. 6 77 Formulation of Sample 1, 0.5% Carolid- 4. 0 4. 0 3. 62. 6 78 Formulation of Sample 2, 0.5% Carolid- 3. 6 4. 0 2. 6 2. 7 77Formulation of Sample 3, 0.5% Carolid. 3. 0 3. 0 2. 6 2. 0 76Formulation of Sample 1, 0.5% furiuraL 4. 0 4. 0 3. 0 2. 6 80Formulation of Sample 2, 0.5% furiural. 4. 0 4. 0 3. 0 2. 3 79Formulation of Sample 3, 0.5% iurfuraL 3. 0 3. 3 2.0 2. 0 75 28Fornllulation of Sample 1, 0.5% Tana- 3.3 4.0 3.3 3.0 75

yo 29 Fornllulation of Sample 2, 0.6% Tana- 3.6 3.0 3. 6 3.0 78

V0 Fornllulation of Sample 3, 0.5% Tana- 4.0 3. 3 3. 0 2.3 75

v0 11 Control 2. O 2.0 2. 0 1. O 65 EXAMPLE IV 4.5 conslsts of thefollowing [the 1s a conventional mixture Fabrics samples being of atwill weave, trouser weight 6 oz. per yard and composed of 65% polyesterand cotton fiber are padded at ambient temperature with aqueous liquidscontaining the compositions indicated in Table 4. The samples are driedto approximately 6% for this particular type of fabric used in theKoratron process for imparting wash and wear and crease characteristicsto cellulosic fabrics (Koratron, a registered trademark of Koratron Co.,Inc., San Francisco, Calif.)

moisture in an oven at 200 F. and 5 minutes and are P f h R Percent thcreased 011a steam press at 250 F. for 15 seconds. Erma res eactant 18325 Thereafter, the samples are placed in an oven at 300 Catalyst X 4 F,for 10 minutes. Each sample is then evaluated for HA-s wash and wearrating, crease retention rating, wrinkle rlt n X-100 0.25 recoveryrating and abrasive resistance rating. Table 4 sllkand 40 4.0 containsthe results of the tests: Moropol 700 3 TABLE 4 Abrasive Wrinkleresistance Wash and Wear ratlng Crease retention rating recovery ratingSample rating (edgewear No. Composition of aqueous mixture 5 washings 10washings 5 washings 10 washings (filling) method) 1 25% PermafreshReactant 183, 4.5% Cata- 3. 6 3.6 3.2 3. 2 79 .5

lyst X4, 0.1% Mykon WA. 2 20% Permairesh Reactant 183, 3.6% Cata- 3. 63. 2 2. 2 1. 8 73 .3

lyst X-4, 0.1% Mykon WA. 3 17.5% Permatresh Reactant 183, 3.2% 3.6 3. 63.0 73 3 Catalyst X-4, 0.1% Mykon WA. 4 Formulation of Sample 2, 0.8%Carolid.. 3. 8 3. 8 2. 8 2. 68 B 5 Formulation of Sample 3, 0.2% Carolid3. 6 3. 4 3. 0 3. 0 71 3 6 Formulation of Sample 3 0 2% fuiiural 3. 83.4 2.8 2. 8 68 s 7-- Formulation of Sample 3, 0.5% Carol 3. 4 3. 4 3. 23. 2 a 8.- Formulation of Sample 3, 0.5% furiural 4.0 3. 6 3. 2 3. 2 743 Formulation of Sample 3, 0.8% Carolid 3. S 3. 8 3. 4 3. 6 67 B 10.Formulation of Sample 3 0.8% luriural 3. 6 3. 6 3. 0 3. 2 10 11. Control2.6 3.0 2.0 2.0

The samples are dried to approximately 8% moisture in an oven at 200 F.for minutes. The samples are then tested for Wrinkle recovery and theresults are indicated in Table 5 TABLE 5 Wrinkle recovery rating SampleI No. Aqueous mixture composition Warp Filling 1 Aqueous Mixture No. l72 75 2 Aqueous Mixture N 0. 2 76 80 As can be readily ascertained, theincorporation of the furfural in aqueous mixture number 2 increases thewrinkle recovery ratings while requiring the use of less resin, i.e.from 25% down to 17% (a reduction in resin usage of 32%) to give goodwrinkle resistance to the fabric.

EXAMPLE VI The procedure of Example V is repeated on fabric samplesbeing of a twill Weave, trouser Weight of about 6 oz. per yard andcomposed of 50% polyester fiber and 50% cotton fiber. Table 6 indicatesthe results of the test:

TABLE 6 Wrinkle recovery rating Sample No. Aqueous mixture compositionWarp Filling 1 Aqueous Mixture No. 1 as out- 72 72 lined in Example 5.

2 Aqueous Mixture No. 2 as out- 76 80 lined in Example 5.

Incorporation of furfural into the aqueous mixture again shows increasedwrinkle resistance while the resin content of the fiber is reduced by32%, ie, from 25% down to 17%.

What is claimed is:

1. In a process of imparting wash-and-wear and crease retentioncharacteristics to a fabric comprised of at least about 25% of asynthetic fiber selected from the group consisting of spandex fibers,polyester fibers, olefin fibers, modacrylic fibers, nylon fibers,acrylic fibers, and mixtures thereof; and not more than about 75%cellulosic fibers, wherein said fibers are impregnated with a resinwhich is subsequently cured, the improvement comprising modifying theresin impregnation step by impregnating the fabric with an aqueoussolution consisting essentially of from about to 35% of a thermosettingresin selected from the group consisting of urea-formaldehyde resins,melamine-formaldehyde resins, carbamate resins, uron resins,imidazolidone resins, epoxy resins, sulfone resins, and triazine resins,and from about 0.1% to about 5% of a chemical swelling agent specific tosaid synthetic fiber.

2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the fabric is composed ofpolyester fibers and cotton fibers.

3. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the resin is an imidazolidone.

4. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the resin is a modified ethyleneurea.

5. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the resin is a carbamate.

6. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the syntheticfiber swelling agentis furfural.

7. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the syntheticfiber swelling agentis o-phenylphenol.

8. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the fabric is composed of acrylicfibers and cellulosic fibers.

9. A garment comprised of synthetic fibers and cellulosic fibers treatedby the process of claim 1.

10. A process of imparting wash-and-wear and crease retentioncharacteristics to a fabric comprised of at least about 25% of asynthetic fiber selected from the group consisting of spandex fibers,polyester fibers, olefin fibers, modacrylic fibers, nylon fibers,acrylic fibers, and mixtures thereof; and not more than about 75%cellulosic fibers comprising impregnating the fabric with an aqueoussolution consisting essentially of from about 10% to about 35% of athermosetting resin selected from the group consisting ofurea-formaldehyde resins, melamine-formaldehyde resins, carbamateresins, uron resins, imidazolidone resins, epoxy resins, sulfone resins,and triazine resins, and from about 0.1% to about 5% of a chemicalswelling agent specific to said synthetic fiber; drying the fabric at atemperature within the range of from about to about 275 F. for a periodof from about 2 to about 8 minutes, imparting a crease to the fabric andheating the fabric at a temperature sufficient to effect curing of theresin.

11. The process of claim 10 wherein the fabric is composed of polyesterfibers and cotton fibers.

12. The process of claim 10 wherein the fabric is composed of acrylicfibers and cellulosic fibers.

13. The process of claim 10 wherein the resin is selected from the groupconsisting of resins of imidazolidone, modified ethylene urea, andcarbamate.

14. The process of claim 10 wherein the syntheticfiber swelling agent isfurfural.

15. The process of claim 10 wherein the syntheticfiber swelling agent iso-phenylphenol.

16. A garment comprised of synthetic fibers and cellulosic fiberstreated by the process of claim 10'.

17. A garment comprised of polyester fibers and cotton fibers treated bythe process of claim 10.

18. A garment comprised of acrylic fibers and cellulosic fibers treatedby the process of claim 10.

19. A process of imparting wash-and-wear and crease retentioncharacteristics to a fabric comprised of at least about 25 of asynthetic fiber selected from the group consisting of spandex fibers,polyester fibers, olefin fibers, modacrylic fibers, nylon fibers,acrylic fibers, and mixtures thereof; and not more than about 75%cellulosic fibers comprising impregnating the fabric with an aqueoussolution consisting essentially of from about 10% to about 35% of athermosetting resin selected from the group consisting ofurea-formaldehyde resins, melamineformaldehyde resins, carbamate resins,uron resins, imidazolidone resins, epoxy resins, sulfone resins, andtriazine resins, and from about 0.1% to about 5% of a chemicalsynthetic-fiber swelling agent specific to said synthetic fiber, dryingthe fabric at a temperature within the range of from about 175 to about275 F. and for a period of time of from about 2 to about 8 minutes,heating the fabric to a temperature sufficient to effect curing of theresin, imparting a crease to the fabric and then pressing the creasewhile the fabric is heated to a temperature of from about 300 F. toabout 450 F.

20. The process of claim 19 wherein the fabric is composed of polyesterfibers and cotton fibers.

21. The process of claim 19 wherein the resin is selected from the groupconsisting of resins of imidazolidone, modified ethylene urea, andcarbamate.

22. The process of claim 19 wherein the syntheticfiber swelling agent isselected from the group consisting 5 of furfural and o-phenylphenol.

23. The process of claim 19 wherein the fabric is composed of acrylicfibers and cellulosic fibers.

24. A garment comprised of synthetic fibers and cellulosie fiberstreated by the process of claim 19.

1 2 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,365,931 12/1944 Benger s130.1x 3,216,780 11/1965 Landells et a1 8-1163 MAYER WEINBLATT, PrimaryExaminer U.S. Cl. X.R.

